(Vatican Radio) Despite the release of 52 political prisoners this week, some estimates suggest that more than 500 political prisoners languish in Burmese prisons. And while some prisoners come out, others go in. One man was sentenced just this week to 6 months imprisonment for a post on social media which he denies making.Listen to Alexander MacDonald's interview with Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK: The list goes on. One of the leaders of the pro-democracy uprising in 2007 was arrested and is in jail for what Farmaner calls “clearly political reasons.” Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK is working to draw attention to the plight of these prisoners.“We’re concerned that there are political prisoners at all, 5 years after a so-called reform process was begun,” said Farmaner. 50 political prisoners are currently incarcerated and approximately 500 are awaiting trial. Among the many problems, friends and families have no access to t...
(Vatican Radio) Despite the release of 52 political prisoners this week, some estimates suggest that more than 500 political prisoners languish in Burmese prisons. And while some prisoners come out, others go in. One man was sentenced just this week to 6 months imprisonment for a post on social media which he denies making.
Listen to Alexander MacDonald's interview with Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK:
The list goes on. One of the leaders of the pro-democracy uprising in 2007 was arrested and is in jail for what Farmaner calls “clearly political reasons.” Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK is working to draw attention to the plight of these prisoners.
“We’re concerned that there are political prisoners at all, 5 years after a so-called reform process was begun,” said Farmaner. 50 political prisoners are currently incarcerated and approximately 500 are awaiting trial. Among the many problems, friends and families have no access to the prisons and it is very difficult to find out information on those detained, especially in remote areas. “The total,” says Farmaner, “could be in the high hundreds. We just don’t know. There has been no effort by the government or the international community to find out.”
When asked whether the situation should improve after the National League for Democracy won a landslide election last year under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi, Farmaner says that the new government will still need to share power with the military which will control the police force, security services and prisons. “But the new government should be able to order the release of prisoners,” he said, “and repeal some of the laws that are used to jail those prisoners.”
Burma UK, with other organizations around the world, is calling for the formation of a comprehensive review committee which can investigate suspected cases of people being jailed for political, religious or ethnic identity, ensure their release and have them compensated.
Vatican City, Jan 23, 2016 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The martyrdom of a 16th-century Samurai who died for his Catholic faith was approved this week by Pope Francis, making the Japanese warrior one among nine other causes that advanced toward sainthood.Takayama Ukon was born in 1552 in Japan during the time when Jesuit missionaries were becoming introduced within the country. By the time Takayama was 12, his father had converted to Catholicism and had his son baptized as “Justo” by the Jesuit Fr. Gaspare di Lella.Takayama's position in Japanese society as daimyo allowed him many benefits, such as owning grand estates and raising vast armies. As a Catholic, Takayama used his power to support and protect the short-lived missionary expansion within Japan, influencing the conversion of thousands of Japanese.When a time of persecution set in within the country under the reign of Japan's chancellor Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587, many newly-converted Catholics abandoned ...
Vatican City, Jan 23, 2016 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The martyrdom of a 16th-century Samurai who died for his Catholic faith was approved this week by Pope Francis, making the Japanese warrior one among nine other causes that advanced toward sainthood.
Takayama Ukon was born in 1552 in Japan during the time when Jesuit missionaries were becoming introduced within the country. By the time Takayama was 12, his father had converted to Catholicism and had his son baptized as “Justo” by the Jesuit Fr. Gaspare di Lella.
Takayama's position in Japanese society as daimyo allowed him many benefits, such as owning grand estates and raising vast armies. As a Catholic, Takayama used his power to support and protect the short-lived missionary expansion within Japan, influencing the conversion of thousands of Japanese.
When a time of persecution set in within the country under the reign of Japan's chancellor Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587, many newly-converted Catholics abandoned their beliefs.
Instead of denying their faith, Takayama and his father left their prestigious position in society and chose a life of poverty and exile. Although many of his friends tried to persuade Takayama to deny Catholicism, he remained strong in his beliefs.
Takayama “did not want to fight against other Christians, and this led him to live a poor life, because when a samurai does not obey his 'chief,' he loses everything he has,” Fr. Anton Witwer, a general postulator of the Society of Jesus, told CNA in 2014.
Ten years passed, and the chancellor became more fierce in his persecution against Christians. He eventually crucified 26 Catholics, and by 1614, Christianity in Japan was completely banned.
The new boycott on Christianity forced Takayama to leave Japan in exile with 300 other Catholics. They fled to the Philippines, but not long after his arrival, Takayama died on February 3, 1615.
In 2013, the Japanese bishops' conference submitted the lengthy 400-page application for the beatification of Takayama to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. On Jan. 22, 2016, Takayama's advancement in the cause for canonization was further promulgated when Pope Francis approved his decree of martyrdom.
“Since Takayama died in exile because of the weaknesses caused by the maltreatments he suffered in his homeland, the process for beatification is that of a martyr,” Fr. Witwer explained.
Takayama's life exemplifies the Christian example of "a great fidelity to the Christian vocation, persevering despite all difficulties," Fr. Witwer continued.
Takayama's cause was one of ten other new sainthood causes, which included three blesseds who have had approved miracles attributed to their intercession.
The other approved decrees included Bl. Stanislaus of Jesus, Bl. Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, Bl. Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio, Francesco Maria Greco, Elisabetta Sanna, Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig CMM, Genaro Fueyo Castanon, Arsenio da Trigolo and Maria Luisa del Santissimo Sacramento.
COMPTON, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities have found one human skull and eight containers with potentially more at a Los Angeles-area shop that sells spiritual items....
COMPTON, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities have found one human skull and eight containers with potentially more at a Los Angeles-area shop that sells spiritual items....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Officials say errors by three airmen troubleshooting a nuclear missile in its launch silo in 2014 caused a "mishap" that damaged the missile, prompting the Air Force to strip the service members of their nuclear certification and quietly launch an accident investigation....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Officials say errors by three airmen troubleshooting a nuclear missile in its launch silo in 2014 caused a "mishap" that damaged the missile, prompting the Air Force to strip the service members of their nuclear certification and quietly launch an accident investigation....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- With long lead time from forecasters and stern warnings from authorities, tens of millions of residents from northern Georgia to New Jersey shuttered themselves inside to wait out a mammoth storm that made travel treacherous and could dump 2 feet or more of snow in some areas....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- With long lead time from forecasters and stern warnings from authorities, tens of millions of residents from northern Georgia to New Jersey shuttered themselves inside to wait out a mammoth storm that made travel treacherous and could dump 2 feet or more of snow in some areas....
 WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops."Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others.""Even as Americans rema...
 WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others."
"Even as Americans remain troubled by abortion," wrote Cardinal Dolan, a powerful and well-funded lobby holds "that abortion must be celebrated as a positive good for women and society, and those who cannot in conscience provide it are to be condemned for practicing substandard medicine and waging a 'war on women'." He said this trend was seen recently when President Obama and other Democratic leaders prevented passage of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, "a modest measure to provide for effective enforcement" of conscience laws.
"While this is disturbing," said Cardinal Dolan, "it is also an opportunity." Pro-life Americans should reach out to "the great majority of Americans" who are "open to hearing a message of reverence for life." He added that "we who present the pro-life message must always strive to be better messengers. A cause that teaches the inexpressibly great value of each and every human being cannot show disdain or disrespect for any fellow human being." He encouraged Catholics to take part, through prayer and action, in the upcoming "9 Days for Life" campaign, January 16-24. More information on the campaign is available online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxJwfcefUiU
He also cited the Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis as a time for women and men to find healing through the Church's Project Rachel post-abortion ministry.
The full text of Cardinal Dolan's message is available online. --- Keywords: Roe v. Wade, anniversary, Pro-Life, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, 9 Days for Life, USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Year of Mercy, Project Rachel, Pope Francis # # # MEDIA CONTACT Don Clemmer O: 202-541-3206
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- A China-based travel agency said Saturday an American university student recently detained by North Korea is being held over an unspecified incident at his hotel before he was scheduled to board a flight for Beijing....
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- A China-based travel agency said Saturday an American university student recently detained by North Korea is being held over an unspecified incident at his hotel before he was scheduled to board a flight for Beijing....
When the Oscar nominations revealed a second consecutive year of all-white acting nominees, it lit a fire under film academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the first African-American to lead the organization....
When the Oscar nominations revealed a second consecutive year of all-white acting nominees, it lit a fire under film academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the first African-American to lead the organization....
